Day off helps end Ducks slump in Edmonton

EDMONTON, Alberta – Getting away from the ice rink as a team got the Ducks back on their game and closer to clinching their long-anticipated Pacific Division title.

In their 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, the Ducks began to resemble the team that has led the division from nearly start to finish and not the group that lost a fair bit of confidence in a four-game losing streak snapped Sunday night.

Instead of a grueling practice to follow up a listless loss to lowly Calgary, the Ducks (28-11-6) cleared their minds by scrapping an on-ice workout and going to a nearby pool hall after captain Ryan Getzlaf talked with Coach Bruce Boudreau.

"We thought it was very important that we got together as a group and loosen up a little bit," Getzlaf said. "We were squeezing sticks. (It was) just kind of groundhog's day every day, coming in and watching video of us not playing well.

"Guys did a very good job responding to things we thought was appropriate yesterday."

After spotting a goal by Edmonton's Taylor Hall just 60 seconds in, the Ducks got a last-second goal by Cam Fowler to end the first period and took control of the game in the second.

Kyle Palmieri broke a 1-1 tie by following up on his first shot that was blocked in front of Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk. Nick Bonino assisted on the scores by Fowler and Palmieri in his first game since missing six weeks because of a lower-body injury.

Corey Perry added some insurance with his team-leading 15th goal on an easy finish after Getzlaf set him up with a gorgeous backhand feed. Jonas Hiller completely shut the Oilers down after the Hall goal in a sharp 27-save outing.

But it was Fowler's first goal of the season that shook loose a slumping team, which will claim the Pacific by beating the Oilers again Monday.

On a faceoff play in the Edmonton zone to start a power play with 4.4 seconds left, Getzlaf broke his stick but Bonino jumped on the loose puck and got a shot on Dubnyk. Fowler jumped in and buried the rebound to snap his long drought.

"You don't want it to happen this late in the season but I'm glad that it happened and it was a big goal for the team," Fowler said. "Now it's behind me and I can move forward."

Said Boudreau: "I just saw about a 200-pound sack of potatoes come off his back after he scored that goal."